racinginc215 wrote: I'd toss in a couple of Korean High Schoolers for structural rigidity. But seriously teach them the basics first. Basic maintenance start with a baseline as bought and show what the basics can do to overall performance. then lighten the car and show what that does then onto suspension and tires. then move to engine mods.
I hadn't even thought of having them change the oil/filters/etc. Might be a good first "dirty hands" class.
Nashco wrote:MrBenjamonkey wrote: I don't think I'll have the budget to get race tires (hard to find in Korea) but I will be able to compare the rock hard commuter crap to something better.Considering they make bunches of tires there, it seems like it's just a matter of figuring out who to ask. Demand might be low making it difficult to find a place to sell them, but it seems like supply would be great. I bet if you could get the right person on the other end of an email and explain that you're trying to teach Korean kids how to make cars go faster with sticky tires, you could probably even get them for free or near-free. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tire_companies Kumho Hankook Nexen Just an idea. Bryce
I'll give it a shot, but I'm probably stuck in the "used tire" market. That said, the principal wants my class in the newspaper, so maybe someone will want free advertising.
MrBenjamonkey wrote: My students are 7th, 8th and 9th graders.
I taught middle school (6/7/8) shop for 25 years. Don't underestimate what your students are capable of understanding and doing. And don't forget to tie in all the math and physics you can.
If you cut them into smaller chunks you might be able to make two cars.
Hal wrote:MrBenjamonkey wrote: My students are 7th, 8th and 9th graders.I taught middle school (6/7/8) shop for 25 years. Don't underestimate what your students are capable of understanding and doing. And don't forget to tie in all the math and physics you can.
Amen. My kids are smart, smart young men and women. In my other classes they are handling discussions about the rationality/irrationality of patriotism and the value of cultural traditions without any problems. Obviously English is their second language, and sometimes that makes it tough, but a combination of my bad Korean, their bad English and an electronic dictionary solves 99.9% of the problems.
As for math and physics, I'm actually scouring the internet for formulae that equate to cars and can be solved with basic algebra. Just stole the GRM sway bar formula off this site.
John Brown wrote: If you are using Korean school children to build a race car, what part of the child is being used for the engine?
Definitely the mouth. Most of my students have very high performance sonic generators.
good luck with this project and please keep us updated in this.
Sorry for the huge delay. Turns out you need a drivers' licence to buy a car in Korea, and getting a licence is a PIA. But, I've got it now, and it looks like either Monday or Tuesday I'll pick up my 1998 Daewoo Nubira.
Might be too late here but if you could track down a Hyundai Pony with Stellar spindles you'd have pretty much "book" build for a Locost.
Airdam, box flares, and a Vodaphone livery, will get it along quite nicely.. 
In reply to NYG95GA:
I was thinking more along the lines of Rustoleum or boat paint gloss white and the Castrol logo work that made Toyota WRC stuff from the late 90's so interesting to look at.
Hope these kids can work out how to cut vinyl to make decals.
My first racer was a Challenge car built with middle/ high school aged home schooled students. Placed 13th out of 77 cars at the Challenge that year- don't underestimate them!
There may be some cultural differences here. American older racer culture vs Korean young non-racer culture. Try to key into what interests THEM, not you. It is possible that the "ricer" boy racer approach is more meaningful to them than to the average poster on this board. My first racer was a "riced" Subaru SVX.
I would not rule out the "useless" aero type changes, if they are meaningful to the students. You've got to give them ownership of the project.
One note: if they are anything like American kids, they will have VERY short attention spans. My student projects have been marred by loss of interest. Don't bite off more than THEY can chew. Keep the mods incredibly simple, and able to be accomplished in a day.
I'd try to keep the car running. Do a mod in the morning, that can be test driven that afternoon. Get them involved in stuff they can see immediate results. If you don't do this, you may be building the car and they may not even be watching.
Weigh the car in the AM. Run a 1/4 mile pass. Record the time. Remove weight. Re-weigh the car. Run another 1/4 mile pass. Show the results. Go home. All in a day. Then consider your next mod.
I'm excited to see young student projects! Good luck!!
Where are you at in Korea? I'm stationed in Yongsan Army Base in Seoul.
Just today I drove down to look at the track in Ansan. It was closed but I took a look through the gate past the angry guard dogs and grazing goats and the track looked pretty nice. Lots of run-off area and wide open space. I've been trying to find someplace I can get some track time but have had no luck. I don't read or speak the language either which makes it harder.
I'm in Daejeon, which is basically in the middle of the country. If you want, I can help you learn the language too.
SVreX wrote: My first racer was a Challenge car built with middle/ high school aged home schooled students. Placed 13th out of 77 cars at the Challenge that year- don't underestimate them! There may be some cultural differences here. American older racer culture vs Korean young non-racer culture. Try to key into what interests THEM, not you. It is possible that the "ricer" boy racer approach is more meaningful to them than to the average poster on this board. My first racer was a "riced" Subaru SVX. I would not rule out the "useless" aero type changes, if they are meaningful to the students. You've got to give them ownership of the project. One note: if they are anything like American kids, they will have VERY short attention spans. My student projects have been marred by loss of interest. Don't bite off more than THEY can chew. Keep the mods incredibly simple, and able to be accomplished in a day. I'd try to keep the car running. Do a mod in the morning, that can be test driven that afternoon. Get them involved in stuff they can see immediate results. If you don't do this, you may be building the car and they may not even be watching. Weigh the car in the AM. Run a 1/4 mile pass. Record the time. Remove weight. Re-weigh the car. Run another 1/4 mile pass. Show the results. Go home. All in a day. Then consider your next mod. I'm excited to see young student projects! Good luck!!
Just got the car today. It's a 98 Nubira 1.6L with the DOHC engine and a five speed stick. It's in really good condition, except for a busted AC pump.
We're supposed to do some things with the students over summer break, and I'm thinking I'll invite my favorite kids to do an intensive "tuning" session.
To keep up the interest, I'm going to leave all four seats in and do frequent stunt driving demonstrations. And yah, I definitely know what you mean about keeping it simple. We're going to do nothing but easy stuff, I think.
pres589 wrote: In reply to NYG95GA: I was thinking more along the lines of Rustoleum or boat paint gloss white and the Castrol logo work that made Toyota WRC stuff from the late 90's so interesting to look at. Hope these kids can work out how to cut vinyl to make decals.
Haha, great idea. Maybe I can get some of my computer geeks to make a "Byeondong Racing" graphics package.
1.6 DOHC, 5 speed...sounds like a great start!
Have you approached Hankook to donate tires? They have future plans to increase their motorsports involvement. This is a video I took when I was there a couple of weeks ago, at the Hankook testing grounds in Geumsan. They had a couple of these turbo V6 Genesis Coupes for us to play with. In the video is drift champion Jang Joo Suk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve0FMeebl64
Luke wrote: 1.6 DOHC, 5 speed...sounds like a great start!
It almost makes up for the Daewoo badge!
Lesley wrote: Have you approached Hankook to donate tires? They have future plans to increase their motorsports involvement. This is a video I took when I was there a couple of weeks ago, at the Hankook testing grounds in Geumsan. They had a couple of these turbo V6 Genesis Coupes for us to play with. In the video is drift champion Jang Joo Suk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve0FMeebl64
I didn't even think of that. Thank you. Cool vid, btw.
This is a very cool thread ! 
You're off to a good start, and doing a 'master class' thru the summer break is a great idea. I think you're gonna find these kids will surprise you with what they come up with.
Thanks for putting this thread up...it gives me hope for the world. If we can't solve the world's myriad problems with World Cup, maybe we can do it one kid at a time with a car.
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